Robert M. Heydt

Robert M. Heydt, 82, a retired Senior Staff Systems Engineer with Lockheed Martin passed
away on February 19, 2021 in Baltimore, Maryland surrounded by his family. Loved by many,
he is remembered for being a good man, who treated people with kindness, humility, and grace.
Always with a smile on his face, he was quick to laugh. He will be deeply missed.

Bob was born on March 12, 1938 in Rahway, New Jersey. He grew up in Bradley Beach, New
Jersey, where he lived with his mother, aunt, and brother. Their father died when Bob was five
years old. After graduating from Neptune High School, he went on to study engineering at
Rutgers University and later earned his MBA at Xavier University. He’s a member of the Sigma Phi
Epsilon Fraternity.

After college graduation, Bob began his career with General Electric in their Manufacturing
Training Program, working in Massachusetts, Indiana, and New York. Kicking off an over 33-
year career in engineering for General Electric and Lockheed Martin, he took a position in Ohio
for GE’s Jet Engine Department. In later years, while holding management positions, he
supported GE’s Space Systems Division through the Defense Mapping Agency. Traveling to
England and Australia, he also supported installation of systems for the Department of Defense’s
Marshall Program.

He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Elizabeth Collins in 1960. They spent summers
working on the Jersey shore, including one year at the Cozy Cottage Restaurant. They have two
children, Kenneth and Elizabeth Heydt. A devoted husband and father, he tirelessly drove each
child to their many soccer practices and tournaments for over a decade.

Active for a period of time in Christ United Methodist Church, he was one of its Charter
Members and was later Treasurer of the Owen Brown Interfaith Center in Columbia. Then, he
became an active member of Glen Mar United Methodist Church for many years. He’s fondly
remembered for his baritone voice joyfully singing hymns in the choir and with family in the
pews. His beautiful deep voice will also ring on as his family members remember how every
year he would call and sweetly serenade you with the happy birthday song.

After retiring in 2002, Bob spent his time as an avid photographer continuing his lifelong love of
photography. He enjoyed researching genealogy and traveling the country with his wife. He also
loved preparing classic holiday family dinners. One of his favorite pastimes was spending time
with his young granddaughters and is remembered dearly for showing them how to drizzle wet
sand through your hands to build sturdy sandcastles along the ocean’s shore.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara Collins Heydt, two children Kenneth (wife
Susan) and Elizabeth Heydt, two grandchildren, Rachael and Lauren Heydt, and nephew Colin
Heydt. Bob was predeceased by his parents, Rudolph and Tecla Heydt, brother John Heydt,

uncles Percy and Henry Heydt, uncle Gus Marx ,and aunts Laura, Agnes and Ruth Marx.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to The Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society at https://donate.lls.org/lls/donate.

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